Adjustable cable securing system

ABSTRACT

A system for securing cable within an enclosure is provided. This system includes an enclosure, wherein the enclosure further includes a bottom portion having a channel formed lengthwise therein; at least one spool mounted in the enclosure, wherein the at least one spool further includes a body having a channel formed therein and a base, and wherein a portion of the spool is inserted into the channel formed in the bottom portion of the enclosure; a length of cable, wherein a portion of the length of cable is inserted into the channel formed in the body of the at least one spool; and wherein rotating the base of the at least one spool winds the cable onto the body of the spool and secures the cable thereto.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The described invention relates in general to mechanical systems forwinding and storing cable or wire, and more specifically to a system,device, and method for adjustably securing a cable within an enclosuresuch as a seat track cover used in an aircraft or other vehicle.

Seat track covers of varying lengths are commonly mounted on the floorsof vehicles such as cars, trucks, buses, and aircraft. These devicestypically include an internal chamber or hollow space that may be usedto house cable, wire, or other items that are related to the function ofthe vehicle. Cable assemblies are often manufactured in pre-set lengthsthat may or may not correspond to the length of the seat track coverwithin which the cable assembly is to be installed. If the cableassembly is considerably longer than the seat track cover, the excesscable may create difficulties with installation and safety. Thus, thereis a need for a system for winding and securing excess cable within seattrack covers or similar enclosures.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following provides a summary of exemplary embodiments of the presentinvention. This summary is not an extensive overview and is not intendedto identify key or critical aspects or elements of the present inventionor to delineate its scope.

In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, a system forsecuring cable within an enclosure is provided. This system includes anenclosure, wherein the enclosure further includes a bottom portionhaving a channel formed lengthwise therein; at least one spool mountedin the enclosure, wherein the at least one spool further includes a bodyhaving a channel formed therein and a base, and wherein a portion of thespool is inserted into the channel formed in the bottom portion of theenclosure; a length of cable, wherein a portion of the length of cableis inserted into the channel formed in the body of the at least onespool; and wherein rotating the base of the at least one spool winds thecable onto the body of the spool and secures the cable thereto.

In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, a device forsecuring cable within an enclosure is provided. This device includes acrown having a channel formed therein; a body formed integrally with thecrown, wherein the body further includes a channel formed therein forreceiving a length of cable, and wherein the channel formed in the bodyis contiguous with the channel formed in the crown; a base formedintegrally with the body; and a pedestal formed integrally with thebase, wherein the pedestal further includes a multi-surfaced stemadapted to cooperate with an enclosure for stabilizing thecable-securing device therein.

In yet another aspect of this invention, a method for securing cablewithin an enclosure is provided. This method includes providing anenclosure, wherein the enclosure further includes a bottom portionhaving a channel formed lengthwise therein; providing at least onespool, wherein the at least one spool further includes a body having achannel formed therein and a base, and wherein a portion of the at leastone spool is adapted to be inserted into the channel in the enclosure;inserting a length of cable into the channel in the body of the at leastone spool; inserting the spool into the channel formed in the bottomportion of the enclosure; and rotating the base of the at least onespool, wherein rotating the base winds the cable onto the body of thespool and secures the cable thereto.

Additional features and aspects of the present invention will becomeapparent to those of ordinary skill in the art upon reading andunderstanding the following detailed description of the exemplaryembodiments. As will be appreciated by the skilled artisan, furtherembodiments of the invention are possible without departing from thescope and spirit of the invention. Accordingly, the drawings andassociated descriptions are to be regarded as illustrative and notrestrictive in nature.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated into and form a partof the specification, schematically illustrate one or more exemplaryembodiments of the invention and, together with the general descriptiongiven above and detailed description given below, serve to explain theprinciples of the invention, and wherein:

FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of thespool component of the cable securing system of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a top perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of the spoolcomponent of FIG. 1 showing a length of cable inserted into the spoolcomponent.

FIG. 3 is a front view of an exemplary embodiment of the spool componentof FIG. 1 showing a length of cable inserted into the spool componentand also showing the spool component inserted into an enclosure to forma cable-securing assembly.

FIG. 4 is a bottom perspective view of the assembly shown in FIG. 3.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Exemplary embodiments of the present invention are now described withreference to the Figures. Reference numerals are used throughout thedetailed description to refer to the various elements and structures. Inother instances, well-known structures and devices are shown in blockdiagram form for purposes of simplifying the description. Although thefollowing detailed description contains many specifics for the purposesof illustration, anyone of ordinary skill in the art will appreciatethat many variations and alterations to the following details are withinthe scope of the invention. Accordingly, the following embodiments ofthe invention are set forth without any loss of generality to, andwithout imposing limitations upon, the claimed invention.

The present invention relates to a system for winding and securingexcess cable, wire, or the like. A first general embodiment of thisinvention provides a system for adjustably securing cable or wire withinan enclosure such as a seat track cover. A second general embodiment ofthis invention provides an adjustable device for securing cable or wirewithin an enclosure such as a seat track cover. A third generalembodiment of this invention provides a method for adjustably securingcable or wire within an enclosure.

With reference now to the Figures, FIGS. 1-4 provide various views of anexemplary embodiment of adjustable cable securing system 10. As bestshown in FIGS. 1-2, spool 20 includes crown 21, body, 22, base 34, andpedestal 35. Although variations in design are possible, spool 20 istypically a single, unitary metal or plastic device, wherein crown 21,body 22, base 34, and pedestal 35 are formed as integral unit. Othermaterials are possible for use in manufacturing spool 20. First topportion 24 and second top portion 27 typically define a channel 19passing through crown 21. First side portion 23 includes first groove 25and second side portion 26 includes second groove 28, which togetherform a substantially circular opening or channel 29 passing through body22. Channel 29, which is formed in body 22 is contiguous with channel 19formed in crown 21, although the opposing concave surfaces of first andsecond grooves 25 and 28 provide channel 29 with a greater overallwidth/diameter for accommodating cable 70 (see FIG. 2). In someembodiments of this invention, channel 19 is absent from spool 20.Pedestal 35 is formed on base 34 and includes multi-surfaced stem 36,which further includes a plurality of individual flats 37. Each flat 37is a substantially flat or planar region formed on stem 36 for engaginga portion of enclosure 50. As shown in FIG. 4, a slot 38 is typicallyformed on the bottom portion of pedestal 35 for receiving the head of ascrewdriver.

As best shown in FIGS. 3-4, enclosure 50, which in the exemplaryembodiment is a seat track cover, includes a top portion 52, a firstside portion 54, a second side portion 56, a first bottom portion 58,and a second bottom portion 60. As will be appreciated by the skilledartisan, the length of enclosure 50 is variable, and the embodimentshown in FIG. 4 is merely illustrative in nature. First and secondbottom portions 58 and 60 define channel 62, which runs lengthwisethough the bottom of enclosure 50. As shown in FIGS. 3-4, spool 20 ismounted within enclosure 50 by inserting stem 36 into channel 62 suchthat crown 21 and body 22 reside within enclosure 50 and pedestal 35protrudes from the bottom of enclosure 50. Flats 37, which are theplanar areas formed on the sides of stem 36, engage the edges of channel62, and provide a “ratchet-like” mechanism for stabilizing spool 20 inchannel 62. A single spool or multiple spools may be inserted intochannel 62 and slid to various desired positions therein depending onthe length of seat track cover (i.e., enclosure 50), the length of thecable assembly in use, and/or upon other variables related to cableinstallation in a vehicle.

When using cable securing system 10, a length of cable 70 is insertedinto circular channel 29 formed in body 22, and spool 20 is insertedinto channel 62. A screwdriver or similar device is then used to rotatepedestal 35, and spool 20 generally, to wind excess cable 70 around body22. Spool 20 may be turned either clockwise or counterclockwise to windexcess cable 70 onto body 22. In the embodiment shown in the Figures,for each half-turn of spool 20, cable or wire 70 is wound one full-turn.To unwind cable or wire 70, spool 20 is simply turned in the directionopposite to that use to wind cable 70 onto the spool.

While the present invention has been illustrated by the description ofexemplary embodiments thereof, and while the embodiments have beendescribed in certain detail, it is not the intention of the Applicant torestrict or in any way limit the scope of the appended claims to suchdetail. Additional advantages and modifications will readily appear tothose skilled in the art. Therefore, the invention in its broaderaspects is not limited to any of the specific details, representativedevices and methods, and/or illustrative examples shown and described.Accordingly, departures may be made from such details without departingfrom the spirit or scope of the applicant's general inventive concept.

1. A system for securing cable within an enclosure, comprising: (a) anenclosure, wherein the enclosure further includes a bottom portionhaving a channel formed lengthwise therein; (b) at least one spoolmounted in the enclosure, wherein the at least one spool furtherincludes a body having a channel formed therein and a base, and whereina portion of the spool is inserted into the channel formed in the bottomportion of the enclosure; (c) a length of cable, wherein a portion ofthe length of cable is inserted into the channel formed in the body ofthe at least one spool; and (d) wherein the base of the at least onespool is rotated to wind the cable onto the body of the spool and securethe cable thereto.
 2. The system of claim 1, wherein the enclosure is aseat track cover.
 3. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least onespool further includes a crown formed integrally with the body, whereinthe crown further includes a channel formed therein, and wherein thechannel formed in the crown is contiguous with the channel formed in thebody.
 4. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one spool furtherincludes a pedestal formed integrally with the base, wherein thepedestal further includes a multi-surfaced stem, and wherein the stemcooperates with the channel formed in the enclosure to stabilize the atleast one spool within the enclosure.
 5. The system of claim 4, whereinthe pedestal further includes a slot formed in a bottom portion thereoffor receiving a screwdriver head.
 6. The system of claim 1, wherein thechannel formed in the body of the at least one spool includes a firstconcave surface and a second concave surface opposite the first concavesurface.
 7. A device for securing cable within an enclosure, comprising:(a) a crown having a channel formed therein; (b) a body formedintegrally with the crown, wherein the body further includes a channelformed therein for receiving a length of cable, and wherein the channelformed in the body is contiguous with the channel formed in the crown;(c) a base formed integrally with the body; and (d) a pedestal formedintegrally with the base, wherein the pedestal further includes amulti-surfaced stem adapted to cooperate with an enclosure forstabilizing the cable-securing device therein.
 8. The device of claim 7,wherein the body is substantially cylindrical in shape.
 9. The device ofclaim 7, wherein the channel formed in the body of the device includes afirst concave surface and a second concave surface opposite the firstconcave surface.
 10. The device of claim 7, wherein the enclosure is aseat track cover, and wherein the seat track cover further includes abottom portion having a channel formed lengthwise therein for receivingthe multi-surfaced stem on the pedestal, and wherein the surfaces on thestem cooperate with the channel to stabilize the device within the seattrack cover when the device is inserted into the channel.
 11. The deviceof claim 7, wherein the pedestal further includes a slot formed in abottom portion thereof for receiving a screwdriver head.
 12. A methodfor securing cable within an enclosure, comprising; (a) providing anenclosure, wherein the enclosure further includes a bottom portionhaving a channel formed lengthwise therein; (b) providing at least onespool, wherein the at least one spool further includes a body having achannel formed therein and a base, and wherein a portion of the at leastone spool is adapted to be inserted into the channel in the enclosure;(c) inserting a length of cable into the channel in the body of the atleast one spool; (d) inserting the spool into the channel formed in thebottom portion of the enclosure; and (e) rotating the base of the atleast one spool, wherein rotating the base winds the cable onto the bodyof the spool and secures the cable thereto.
 13. The method of claim 12,wherein, the enclosure is a seat track cover.
 14. The method of claim12, wherein the at least one spool further includes a crown formedintegrally with the body, wherein the crown further includes a channelformed therein, and wherein the channel formed in the crown iscontiguous with the channel formed in the body.
 15. The method of claim12, wherein the at least one spool further includes a pedestal formedintegrally with the base, wherein the pedestal further includes amulti-surfaced stem, and wherein the stem cooperates with the channelformed in the enclosure to stabilize the at least one spool within theenclosure.
 16. The method of claim 15, wherein the pedestal furtherincludes a slot formed in a bottom portion thereof for receiving ascrewdriver head.
 17. The method of claim 12, wherein the channel formedin the body of the at least one spool includes a first concave surfaceand a second concave surface opposite the first concave surface.